V MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 143 



occasions appeared to be breeding on quite friendly terms with the Falcons 

 within a few feet of each other. On two other occasions I found the old or 

 deserted nest of a Heron or Stork had been occupied by the Falcons. 



K. 0. MACDONALD. 



Myingyan, Upper Bcjemah, IBth March, 1901. 



Note. — The specimen sent, which is the skin of an adult bird, has been 



carefully examined and there is no doubt Mr. Macdonald is correct in his 



identification. So far as I know the species has not previously been recorded 



from Burma and the fact of its now being found to be fairly common in the 



Myingyan district only goes to show how much we have still to learn of the 



distribution of many species. Mr. Blanf ord, in noting the absence of records 



of this falcon from Burma, also mentions Assam. It has since been reported 



from Cachar by Mr. Inglis and others, although Mr. Stuart Baker writes in 



our Journal (Vol. XI, p. 403) of the latter district that ' it must be a very rare 



bird, as I have never seen one, nor have any of my collectors managed to get 



me one. 



E. COMBER. 

 Bombay, 27th March, 1901, Honorary Secretary (Birds). 



No. III.— BIRDS' NESTING ROUND POONA AND ELSEWHERE. 



In the cold weaLher one has to be content with quality not quantity ; it may 

 be termed the " dull f^eason," ; nesting being confined practically to birds of 

 prey which necessitates a good deal of travelling in order to cover a large 

 amount of ground. On the whole, however, I have met with a considerable 

 measure of success. 



The King oa Black Vulture (Otogyps calvits). — During the past two 

 seasons, I have obtained three nests, two round Poona and one in the Shola- 

 pur District. The latter nest was an enormous structure and was placed on 

 the top of a lofty tamarind tree, in taking which rather an amusing incident 

 occurred. During my tour I was accompanied by a friend, who made use of 

 a horse as a means of locomotion, while I relied on my bicycle. He sar- 

 castically told me be thought I should probably have to foot it most of the 

 way as the roads were bad and hoped I was fond of walking. As luck would 

 have it, I had only ridden a very few miles on the first day, when my byke 

 punctured badly ; J, however, managed to repair it very quickly and reached 

 camp safely to be met with further sarcasm. As the sequel shows my turn 

 came and I had rather the best of the laugh. My frieu'i constantly chaffed 

 me regarding my passion for nesting. When proceeding to take the above 

 nest, he accompanied me : on seeing it, he observed " why, that's only a dove's 

 nest!" While engaged in this banter, he was getting through a hedge, 

 when he ran a babul thorn into his leg : we tried our utmost to get it out 

 but failed, even though we enlisted the aid of the village barber ! As most 

 people are aware, a babul thorn in the flesh is most painful. I assisted my 

 chum into camp and next day we made tracks for Sholapur to obtain medical 



